After photos of popular Chinese actress Zhao Lusi in a wheelchair looking frail and unresponsive went viral this past week, the star has finally broken her silence on social media. The images, which sparked widespread concern among her devoted fans, led to an outpouring of supportive messages as many expressed their worry for her well-being. Here's what Zhao Lusi had to say about the situation:

"This is my first and last response to everything that has happened recently. I sincerely apologize for taking up public attention. Before all this, I never allowed my illness to affect my work or those around me. I also acknowledge my own shortcomings. I’ve always thought of myself as patient, but over the past half month, I’ve realized that deep down, I’m not as magnanimous as I believed. So, I do hold some responsibility for the situation. My profession has given me more help and support than I could have imagined. I’m deeply grateful and fortunate, which allows me to understand all the misunderstandings I’ve faced. I fully support the idea that anyone can choose the career they aspire to at any time. You always have the right to leave the hardships and exhaustion of your current situation. You can stop whenever you want; you are free, and you can be brave. At the same time, I understand that everyone has experienced grievances and injustices. I’ve heard too many horrifying stories. If someone, without receiving any support, is silenced while their abuser grows bolder, regardless of profession, age, or gender, I believe that is wrong. It’s absurd to force someone to reopen old wounds to prove they’re not “overthinking,” not “too weak,” or not “unsatisfied.” No one but a doctor has the right to assess the severity of someone’s trauma or determine whether it qualifies as an illness. In 2019, I began experiencing depressive symptoms. People told me, “Don’t make a big deal out of it,” or “Think positively, and everything will be fine.” I thought I was being overly sensitive and didn’t take my mental health seriously. In 2021, I started feeling as if bugs were crawling on me, accompanied by needle-like sensations and allergies. Even after taking medication and getting injections, the symptoms didn’t improve. I eventually sought a psychologist to help manage my anxiety. In 2023, I faced pneumonia, emphysema, pityriasis rosea, hives, night sweats, sudden awakenings, and nerve deafness. I also dealt with the passing of a loved one and several cancer diagnoses within the family—all within a short time. However, the magnitude of the events overshadowed my emotions, and I continued to neglect myself. It wasn’t until 2024 that I began experiencing severe physical symptoms like frequent dry heaving, dizziness, joint pain, and worsening allergies. I assumed these were normal side effects of targeted allergy medication. When I was a child, I was often labeled as “useless” and a “pretty face.” During after-school tutoring, a teacher once hit me in their dorm. I believed it was justified because I wasn’t performing well academically and didn’t dare to speak up, thinking, “I must be the problem.” As I grew up, I was hit again after failing an acting audition. I thought it was my fault for not succeeding, so I stayed silent and only wanted to escape. I was used to handling everything on my own and never sought help. Later, after my work started getting recognition, I finally gained the confidence to say goodbye to that chapter of my life. In the end, she demanded a large “termination of contract fee” before finally stopping her cycles of crying, making scenes, and threatening self-harm. Even then, she spread endless slander and rumors about me, both inside and outside the industry. Countless people reached out to gossip after hearing these stories. Every incident deepened my pain, and the harm hasn’t stopped. I understand very well that I can’t have everything I want, nor can I demand perfection from my friends, family, or company. They haven’t hurt me and have done their best to protect me—that’s more than enough. I’ve never publicly mentioned my illness before because I didn’t want it to be labeled as a “publicity stunt.”

However, given the current circumstances, I hope this can raise awareness: Feeling depressed can be an emotion, but depression as an illness is a medical condition. It cannot be resolved by simply “thinking positively” or “talking it out.” To those who share my feelings of being “truly understood”: whether or not others understand is no longer important. What’s worse is being caught in a cycle of endless explanations while being unable to save yourself. Understanding mental health and prioritizing mental health care is incredibly important. Regret is a useless emotion. “So take this ‘special time’ as an opportunity to break free from past inner conflicts and rebuild yourself.” Thank you to everyone who cared. It’s because of love that I’ve found the strength to live again. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and endless happiness."

A small token of affection from us at Dramazen: 

"Dear Zhao Lusi, your strength and talent have always inspired us, and we’re sending you all our love and support during this time. Please take all the time you need to rest and recover—we’re cheering for you every step of the way! You’ve got an army of fans who believe in you and can’t wait to see your bright smile again. 💖 With love, Dramazen."